Mdi Cow Calf Program
Cow Herd Appraisal Performance System
'NCBA-IRM-SPA' Production Review System
- Mdi Cow Calf Program Template
- Mdi Cow Calf Program Training
- Mdi Cow Calf Program Danas
- Mdi Cow Calf Program Clip Art
A cooperative project between the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science Research and Extension Service and the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association
Cow/Calf Performance Reports As a comprehensive analysis system, CHAPS III provides all the standard performance data as suggested by the Beef Improvement Federation ( www.bif.org ). Some of the reports can be sorted by a variety of categories as determined by the producer. MDI Cow-Calf 007 is developed by Magnum Digital, Inc. The most popular version of this product among our users is 7.0. The name of the program executable file is CCMDB.exe. The product will soon be reviewed by our informers. CritterWorks is different software than CattleWorks. It can be used to track more than one type of animal on the farm or ranch. You can easily manage Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Camelids, Fowl, Goats, Donkeys, Swine, Buffalo & even your faithful ranch/farm dogs all from the same platform. The Beef Cow-calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) offers a unique opportunity for cow-calf producers of any size in the Southwest. Initiated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) producer-led effort, SPA is designed to help cow-calf producers reduce their cost of production and improve their production and marketing efficiency. Cause of calf scours in a herd, a product like CalfGuard should be given before the calf has the opportunity to nurse. Withhold from nursing for 30 minutes after giving product. Ensure that calf gets roughly 10% of its’ body weight in colostrum within the first 2‐6 hours after birth. An appropriate Herd Health Program ensures that all cattle are raised in the best health. A strong herd health plan begins with a yearly production calendar that includes cattle nutrition, reproduction management, vaccination schedules, and marketing, all of which are critical to sustainable beef cattle.
Mdi Cow Calf Program Template
NDBCIA Headquarters: Dickinson Research Extension Center
1089 State Avenue, Dickinson ND 58601
contact: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2348
e-mail: chaps@ndsuext.nodak.edu
What is CHAPS III?
CHAPS III (Cow Herd Appraisal Performance System) is a state-of-the-art beef production record system designed to provide you with vital information about your managerial decisions and herd's performance. CHAPS III was developed by the North Dakota State University Extension Service through the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association (NDBCIA) and has been reviewed and approved by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association - National Integrated Resource Management - Coordinating Committee.
Who Uses CHAPS III?
Many aggressive, progressive cattle producers are utilizing the CHAPS III program. Both commercial and registered breeders have success stories to relate on how CHAPS has met their needs in enhancing their management strategies. Because of the comprehensive analysis and the unique features of CHAPS III, beef improvement associations and individual cattle producers from other states have purchased this program. As a testimony to the credibility and latest technology available in this program, the program is currently being utilized by the Extension Service in 26 states.
The Value of Information
The more documented records you have available on each of your cows, the better equipped you are to make bold, decisive decisions about culling, selection and mating systems. The managerial decisions you make today can have a huge impact on the future of your herd for many years to come. As an aggressive cattle producer competing in today's complex beef market, you need to utilize all the tools available to reduce guesswork, adding predictability to your herd performance. CHAPS III is one of those tools.
NCBA-IRM-SPA-ANALYSIS
The NDSU Extension Service, in cooperation with the NDBCIA, provides managerial reports generated through the CHAPS III program. These reports assist producers with total herd evaluations which are utilized in North Dakota's Integrated Resource Management (IRM) program. A common problem with record systems is the accumulation of mounds of data with little effective utilization of the data. The ultimate purpose of this program is to assure that each NCBA-IRM-SPA trait is balanced within the operation and evaluated simultaneously. (Go to 1998 NCBA-IRM-SPA Analysis report http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/dickinso/research/beef98a.htm)
The Benchmarks
For more effective utilization of individual herd data, production benchmark values utilizing the NCBA-IRM-SPA calculations were obtained from CHAPS herds. CHAPS III compares each individual producer's performance against the benchmarks. The benchmark values for the NCBA-IRM-SPA traits can be found at: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/dickinso/research/beef98a.htm)
Cow/Calf Performance Reports
As a comprehensive analysis system, CHAPS III provides all the standard performance data as suggested by the Beef Improvement Federation (www.bif.org). Some of the reports can be sorted by a variety of categories as determined by the producer. CHAPS III includes the following performance reports:
Calf listing (divided by sex) (Click here to see samples)
- Birthdate
- Birth Weight
- Calving Ease
- Actual Weaning Weight
- 205-Day Adjusted Weight
- 205-Day Weight Ratio
- Age in Days
- Frame Score
- Confirmation Grade
- Calf Parentage
- Sex Group Averages
- Contemporary Group averages
Sire Summaries - Progeny Averages:
- 205-Day Weight
- Birth weight
- Calving Ease
- Weaning Weight
- Age in Days
- Frame Score
- Average Daily Gain
- Weight per Day of Age
Calving Distribution
- Calves Born by 21-day Intervals
- Average Calving Date by Cow Age
- Average Weaning Weight by Cow Age
- Average Weaning Weight by 21-day Intervals
Cow Culling Report
- Number of cows culled in each of the following categories: died, age, physical defects, poor fertility or open, inferior calves, or sold as replacement stock.
Cow Summaries (Click here to see sample reports)
- Cow Identification
- Age of Cow
- Sire of Cow
- Cow Breed Averages
- Calving Intervals
- Cow Weight and Condition Score at Weaning
- MPPAs (Most Probable Producing Ability)
- Lifetime History of Individual Calf Performance
Yearling Performance Reports(Click here to see sample reports)
- Adjusted 365-Day Weight
- 365-Day Weight Ratio
- Frame Score
- ADG on Test
- WDA off Test
- Sire Averages
- Sex Group Averages
- Breed Averages
- Pelvic Measurements
- Back Fat Measurements
How Do I Get Started?
If you have never been involved in a performance and managerial evaluation before, you will first have to identify your cows and calves with an identification system of eartags or freeze-branding, etc. The minimum records you should keep include age of cow, calf sex, birth dates, and individual or group weaning weight.
Your local county agent can help you get started and you don't even need a computer on your ranch. If you want NDBCIA to handle the processing for you, all you have to do is report the information on the forms NDBCIA provides. Or, if you want to process the records yourself, the CHAPS III software program is available for sale.
What Does It Cost?
NDBCIA will process your records and send you the reports for $.35 per cow, plus a $5 annual membership fee. Laser printed reports and across year herd performance graphs are available for $.50 per cow plus a $5 annual membership fee. The CHAPS III software program is currently available for $200 for individual use.
Computer Equipment Needed
The CHAPS III program is available as a Micro Computer Program if you would like to process your own records. CHAPS III requires and IBM-PC or compatible microcomputer with a minimum of 3 MB of hard disk space and a PC-DOS or MS-DOS operating system, version 3.21 or higher.
Turn-Around Time
NCBCIA annually processes over 25,000 calf records from over 200 herds with an average turn-around time of 2 days. The NDBCIA, in cooperation with the NDSU Extension Service, is equipped with state-of-the-art computer equipment. Coupled with a professional, trained staff, the NDBCIA is committed to serving its members and the livestock industry in North Dakota.
How Do I Participate?
Simply contact your local county agent or Keith Helmuth at the NDBCIA headquarters at:
NDSU Research Extension Center
1133 State Avenue
Dickinson ND 58601
(701)483-2348
e-mailchaps@ndsuext.nodak.edu
NDBCIA will be glad to answer your questions and assist you in implementing your performance testing program.
1NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agricultural and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam Era Veteran status, or sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer.
Cattlemen have demonstrated a commitment to the integrity of today’s beef products by implementing sound cattle management practices. Consumers are looking for beef raised in a healthy and safe environment. An appropriate Herd Health Program ensures that all cattle are raised in the best health.
A strong herd health plan begins with a yearly production calendar that includes cattle nutrition, reproduction management, vaccination schedules, and marketing, all of which are critical to sustainable beef cattle production. Management practices can be better matched with cattle needs by looking at the annual production cycle month by month. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Animal Science Department has an example of a beef production calendar.
Once a production calendar is developed, a producer can work with their veterinarian to plan a specific strong health program to their herd management plan for their herd. The veterinarian can help a beef operation best tailor health management to deal with local diseases, parasites and other regional health issues.
Most herd health plans include core vaccinations such as IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3, Clostridials, Brucella, Lepto, Vibrio, and so on, as well as core parasite controls. But there are additional considerations, and a veterinarian’s recommendations can better meet a herd’s needs. Consider what core vaccinations are key to each group: bulls, mature cows, replacement females, calves at birth and weaning, and into the feeding stages.
With the new Veterinary Feed Directive regulations, the health program needs to focus more directly on preventative options to minimize the need for treatment. Some health issues that may have been treated use a feed grade antimicrobial in the past may not be an option, but there might be a vaccination available for prevention. Depending on labor and timing, developing a strong plan can improve effectiveness and economics for the operation.
Mdi Cow Calf Program Training
Nutrition is an important element of all herd health plans. Building a nutrition plan around utilizing available feedstuffs and water supplies is a vital part of the yearly management calendar. Additionally, cattle health and nutrition can’t be separated. Today’s producers may want to also consider alternative feed additives that have shown beneficial results assisting building the animal’s immune system, such as probiotics and mineral programs. Working with a qualified nutritionist can improve the economic bottom line and improve the value realized from a herd health program.
Mdi Cow Calf Program Danas
Lastly, remember to comply with all product labels pertaining to dosage, administration, storage and withdrawal times, and to keep good health records. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), Animal Health and Antimicrobial Stewardship guideline should be follow on all cattle operations to build consumer confidence with beef.
For more information about Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance or to get BQA certification, contact Rob Eirich, Nebraska Extension Educator and Nebraska Director of BQA at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center 308-632-1230 or reirich2@unl.edu. Additional BQA resources can be found at http://www.bqa.org.
Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. Eirich directs the program in the state of Nebraska, in a partnership between UNL Extension, Nebraska Cattlemen, and the Nebraska Beef Council.
Reference
Mdi Cow Calf Program Clip Art
Rob Eirich, Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance, Nebraska Extension
University of Nebraska–Lincoln